BREEDING BIRD: ASH-THROATED FLYCATCHER (Myiarchus cinerascens)

Description: Grayish-brown above, with bushy brown crest. Pale gray throat and breast give the bird its name. Belly and under-tail coverts are pale yellow; seen from below, dusky tail shows entirely reddish inner webs and brown tips. Habitat: Common in woodlands, scrub and desert areas. Diet: Gathers insects from bark of branches and trunks; eats some fruits. Displays: Basic vocal repertoire of four call patterns; repertoire fully developed by time of fledgling. Nest: Often nest in natural cavity or hole of fence post; may take over nest holes of small woodpeckers. Nests are soft, of hair, fur, feathers, grass and occasionally snakeskin. Eggs: Cream colored, marked with purples, browns and olive; less than one inch long. Breeding bird atlas: To report bird breeding activity in your neighborhood, or to get information on the breeding bird atlas, call Sea and Sage Audubon Society members Sylvia Gallagher, (714) 962-8990, or Nancy Kenyon, (714) 786-3160. Note: Map is divided into 5-kilometer squares so that Audubon Society volunteers can more easily survey areas on a regular basis. Sources: Sea and Sage Audubon Society; “The Birder’s Handbook,” Ehrlich, Dobkin and Wheye, Fireside Books (1988); “Field Guide to the Birds of North America,” National Geographic Society (1987); “Birds of Southern California: Status and Distribution,” Garrett and Dunn, Los Angeles Audubon Society (1981).